Shadow's Redemption

  Shadow stared at the sky, " I saved the planet for you...Maria." He sighed and tried to hold back tears that had been dormant for years. His shoulders shook with his silent sobs, " Maria." A man's voice sounded behind him, " Shadow..." He looked behind him and wiped away his tears, " What?!" The man was adorned in black gold and red. Blue hair fell to his waist and he smiled, " I have a task for you." " I don't take orders," Shadow got up to leave. " What I have for you to do may bring Maria back and give you a chance for redemption," the man replied. Shadow clenched his fists, something told him this guy was no good, " Sorry, but no." Shadow took a deep breath and walked on. " Then know this Shadow the hedgehog, you're now an enemy..." the man said, "I, SYTHROS, DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!" Shadow raced along the strip, his black motorcycle not standing out in the least. " Maria, I'm sorry, I just...." he sighed, " I couldn't trust him." Maria's cheerful voice echoed through his mind still. < Remember Shadow, I'll always be here for you.> she had pointed to his chest, < No matter what, you won't forget about me, and I won't forget about you.> Shadow blinked tears out of his eyes and sped on. He spotted something huge and black in the middle of the street, " What the hell?!" It was a huge two headed wolf. He crashed the bike into it's feet, back flipped and pulled out two pistols, " Die!" He kept firing, slowly draining the thing's energy. Suddenly a red flash of color raced by, " I got your back Shadow!" " Knuckles?" Shadow asked in disbelief. " I've got someone I'm fighting for too!" he drove his fist into one of the wolf's heads, " She's waiting for me back on Angel island...in the emerald." Shadow landed on his feet and threw the useless guns aside. He jumped into the air and spin kicked the wolf's other head, " Maria was counting on me to keep this planet safe, and as God as my witnesss, I'm going to make damn sure I keep that promise!" Knuckles nodded and the two fought side by side. " Tikal, watch over me," Knuckles muttered. Shadow glanced at his ally, his purple eyes were narrowed nearly into slits, and he was fighting with more resolve than ever. Shadow was sure he looked the same. As soon as the wolf was defeated Knuckles sighed, " I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to bring Maria back, there has to be one." " Thanks Knuckles," Shadow said. Knuckles nodded, " My regards Shadow." Knuckles walked off into a fog, he soon disappeared, but not before Shadow could make out the figure of a female echidna walking beside him. Shadow sped off, he skated down the street. A memory struck him hard, he grabbed a street lamp and put a hand through his hair...
  He woke up, Maria was smiling as he fell out of the pod. She caught him, " Easy." Shadow looked up at her, " Who are you?" " My name is Maria, Shadow," she said. " Shadow....that must be my name." Maria nodded, " Yup, do you like it? I came up with it myself." Shadow smiled, " It's a cool name."
  Shadow breathed heavily as he stood up straight again, " My memories are still incomplete?" He shook his head and raced off. " Shadow!" a familiar voice cried. He looked over his shoulder, " Sonic?" The blue hedgehog was obviously just reaching his maximum speed trying to keep up with Shadow. " Just like old times, eh buddy?" Sonic asked. " Since when have you been my buddy Sonic?" Shadow asked, " Last time I checked you wanted me dead." Sonic rubbed his ear and shrugged, " That's ancient history." Shadow picked up the pace and left Sonic in the dust. Hours went by, and Shadow had battled many an enemy, but still no luck until he found Sythros. " You," Shadow said, " you've been sending those creatures after me." Sythros drew a sword that was a gold blade and sliver spiked tip, " As I said before Shadow, you are now my enemy." Shadow glared at him, " I see..." He drew an automatic hand held machine gun, " Fine, let's go." Shadow raced around behind Sythros and slammed his fists into the back of his head. Sythros blocked one attack and was hit by another. He lashed out and cut Shadow's right shoulder. " Dammit!" Shadow cried dodging the next one and accidentally letting go of the gun. He could feel a power rising inside. He flip kicked Sythros in the face and punched him in the gut. Sythros caught Shadow's hand in the next punch and threw him against the wall. " Asshole," Shadow replied wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. Shadow assumed a fighting position and raced forward in a mighty battle cry. Sythros extended his hand, " Anthropic Exchange!" He slammed his hand into Shadow's chest and Shadow dropped to his knees as he watched the fur on his arms disappear and become replaced with a black and red jacket, " What did you do to me?!" Shadow cried looking at himself. He was human, a black and red jacket with white fur around the collar, black and red jeans with a chain on the left side, his shoes were the same, his gloves had changed. The fingers were half way cut and the glove was black, the rings were still on his wrists and feet. His hair was still black and red, but not as spikey and it fell to the middle of his back. Shadow grinned, " Maybe I can use this." Shadow raced towards Sythros and kicked him, hitting his jaw in one kick. He backflipped and slammed his foot into Sythros' shoulder. Shadow warped and delivered a painful blow to the back of Sythros' head. Shadow was panting, his wounds hurt worse now that he was human. Sythros coughed, " I guess you want Maria back now...I can't do that." Shadow clenched his fists, " What can you do?" " I can bring her to this world temporarily, you will only stay human for a small time lapse." " Bring Maria back!" Shadow cried. Sythros held out his hand and Maria materialized in front of Shadow. She moaned and fell. Shadow caught her, " Maria?" " Sha...dow?" she asked in dazed pain. Shadow's eyes were watering, " Maria. " He held her. She knew it was him. " Oh Shaddy," she wrapped her arms around his neck, " You're human now." " For a little while," Shadow smiled, " I love you." Maria smiled and sighed, " I have always loved you too, Shadow. Even when GUN told me lies about you. I sense I don't have much more time." Shadow knew she was right, he drew her into a kiss, " Maria." She hugged him as she began to fade away and he changed back into a hedgehog. He was sobbing, the sadness that had been bottled up could stay bottled up no longer, " MARIA!"
  Now Shadow was back at square one, staring up at the stars, remembering his tme on the ARK, and wishing Maria was still alive...